SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2373, 1 February 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Golden Wedding. A vory pleasant gathering was held at the Masonic Hall, Brooklyn, on Friday last, the occasion being the celebration of tho golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Ezekiel Kemp Read. Mr. and Mrs. Read were married on January 29, 1860, at Hoxton Church, New North Road, London. They arrived in Wellington in the ship Cartvale in 1874. Shortly afterwards Mr. Read joined the Public Works Department and remained in the employ of the Government for thirty years. Since 1908 ho has lived a retired life. There are six sons and three daughters, all married, and seventeen grand-children. Military Sports, Tho military sports at Trenfcham attracted a large crowd of people, and proved very interesting and successful. The races were all well contested, and two very amusing ones took place. One was the hand race, where each man had to beat or blow his particular instrument. No sounds reached tho grandstand, but waves of laughter and the sound of the big drum, but no doubt the competitors all made' noises of some sorts, and the winner deserved much honour. The other was a pick-a-back race, where half the distance was done by one man, and the other half by the "horse,." and the changes caused much amusement. Among those present wore: Mr., Mrs., and Miss MasMassey, Mrs. H. D. Bell, Lady Ward, Mrs. Hall Thompson, Mrs. Gibbon, Mrs. and Miss Sim, Mrs. Callaway, Mrs. and Miss Page-Howard, Mrs. and Miss Mantel], and many others. The Diamond Jubilee. Saturday afternoon at Newtown Park was a great occasion for the children. There were races and games of all sorts going on. Notable among the fancy drosses were an American Indian, a Itster, and numerous Scotch dresses, and the lorries with the Opera Company and the Boy Scouts were very greatly admired. Dr. Platts-Mills and a. Plunket nurse must have had considerable difficulty in awarding prizes to the babies, as there -were so many pretty, chubby little things. The special prize given for a baby born since war was declared was taken by a fine boy with the appropriate name of Robert Douglas. The Ulaxo first prize was given to a seven-months' boy belonging to Mrs. Taylor, of Brooklyn. The. prize girl under 12 months was mest fascinating and belonged to Mrs. Elliot, of Kilbirnie. For twins, Mrs. Kennedy's babies carried off first prize. Tho greased pig caused, great excitement, chased eagerly by boys and men, while the womenkind scattered to a safe distance to laugh at the sport, and finally threo or four men hurled themselves hodily on tho unfortunate pig, which loudly remonstrated. The bands played cheerily, the tea kiosk was full, and altogether it was a most successful fete.

Miss Ewart leaves to-day for an extended visit to Christchureii and Invaroargill.

Mr. and Mrs. P. P. Webb are spending the holidays at Paekakariki.

' There is no person in New Zealand, certainly no woman, who will not be Klad to hear that it is definitely artanged that at least 50 trained nurses are to be sent to England to help to nurse the wounded and sick soldiers. It has been a matter of great surprise here and' among English friends that no nursoa were sent with the main Fcrce, and that only a very few have gone at their own expense. The question asked is: "Bo not the New Zealand nurses want to do?" The Eugiish women who are working so hard and so keenly, and who aie aware of the shortage of trained women, find it difficult to understand, especially as over 300 have gone from Australia. There is certainly no lack of capable, trustworthy volunteers, the only difficulty will be in narrowing the number down to fifty. However, now a start is made in the right direction, perhaps there may be another "Expeditionary Force" of nurses later on.

The Misses Arndt. who have lately arrived in Wellington, were in Berlin when war was declared, and have a great deal that is interesting to relate about it. The.) were living in their owu house, and are good linguists, so came oif a great deal better than a good many other English people. Miss M. Arndt has been studying in Hermann Sterucke's studio since May, and they heard no rumours of war, and it canio in Germany as quite a shock. They were no better prepared for such news than we were. Miss Arndt has been studying etching; she has some beautiful work with her, and intends opening a studio as soon as she is s&ttlcd. She speaks with great admiration of Riickham's work, and Frank Brangewyn was one of her masters. He is some lovely decorations now, but in common with others finds it almost impossible to work in these unsettled stirring times. Many artists havo given up painting and are learning to shoot, and an artists' corps is being formed. Miss Arndt heard it said that there are no imaginary ailments in England now. There is so much to do and to think about, and tho dootors scarce and hard worked, that no one has time or opportunity to be a "malade imaginaire." This is certainly one tljing to bo thankful for in those sad times. Tho usual tales of British misery and German magnificence were circulated everywhere. Miss Arndt had a great deal of news to surprise her, when sho came within truthful regions again, as nothing but the mnrvcllous and successful doings of the German Army over reached Berlin.

Women Writers' Appeal to M.Z. The Duchess of Marlborough sends an appeal to New Zealand on. behalf of the funds of the British Women's Emergency Corps, which has for its object tlio care of the middle-class workers, thousands of whom ara faced already with destitution —actresses, artists, musicians, authors, translators, secretaries, typists, and many others— and the corps is trying to deal with the problem of how to find for them fresh fields of endeavour and activity. It is represented that their plight is a very sad one, as in timo of national anxiety they are tho first to have tho doors of their livelihood closed upon them, and they are the last to seek help. They may starvo in lonliness and silence and are not to be reached by the ordinary means of communication between distress and relief. Tho executive committee is familiar with their needs and difficulties, and is carefully arranging schemes of work which will give these women fresh chances and continuous employment. Tho Bank of New South ".Vales has kindly consented to receive, at its branches throughout New Zealand, contributions, to the funds of the corps. The circular is signed by Beatrice Harraden, Flora Amie Steele, Ellen Thornycroft Fowler, Klinor Gliyh, Elizabeth Robin, May Sinclair, Dora Sigerson, and Emmuska Orcz.y.

Nurse Laura James, daughter of Dr. f James, of Wellington, who was train- I ed at the Hospital here, is a member f of the Royal Military Nursing Service, j She is an acting-sistei at llouen, and I has written noma extremely interesting [ descriptive letters. Other Wellington I Hospital trained nurses are Sistors I LLnd and Hitchcock, they also are at ! llouen, nursing under the French flag, r.

Miss 13erry, at one time assistant-ma-tron here, is matron of a, large military hospital at Preston.

Mrs. Gallaway, of Dunedin, is visiting Wellington to see her son, Lieutenant G. Galloway, who is probably leaving with the next force.

Mrs. and Miss Sim (Dunedin) are visiting Wellington.

Mr. and Mrs. Norman Owen, of Hurkeyville, Patea, are visitors to Wellington, and are staying at tho New Occidental Hotel.

Mrs. Albert A. Corrigan and her daughter, Louie, have arrived back in Wellington after a holiday in Gisborne.

The Richmond Free Kindergarten Schools beain work again on Tuesday next.

Mrs. Sargood is staying at the Golf House at Heretaunaa.

Captain and Mrs. Grey and Mr. J. Grey have returned from a delightful yachting trio to the sounds.

Mrs. Mantell gave a very pleasant little, dance at Heretaunsa on Saturday evening.

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